UCL Medical School Interview Questions (2026 Entry)
Introduction
University College London (UCL) is one of the UK’s most competitive medical schools, receiving ~3,000–3,800 applications for ~334 places each year. Interviews are required for all offers and are delivered in a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format.
Ready to practise with doctors who interview at UK medical schools? Book our Medical School Interview Course — taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK Medical Schools.
How UCL decides who to invite to interview (2026 entry)
What UCL looks at when shortlisting
Academic eligibility: You must meet UCL’s minimum academic entry requirements; achieving higher than the minimum does not confer extra advantage at shortlisting.
UCAT: All applicants must sit the UCAT in the year of application. Candidates are ranked primarily by their total UCAT score, with the SJT used to break ties. Personal statements are not scored for shortlisting purposes (UCL encourages the reflective use of the statement, but it doesn’t contribute to interview selection). Contextual (Access UCL) applicants and Overseas applicants are considered in separate pools.
UCAT cut-offs/thresholds
Last cycle (for 2025 entry): Minimum total UCAT scores to be invited to interview were:
Access UCL: 2600; Home: 2800; Overseas: 3060 (out of 3600). The average score for all UCL applicants was 2859.This cycle (for 2026 entry): UCAT has changed — Abstract Reasoning removed, so the total is now 2700. UCL states previous cut-offs aren’t predictive for 2026 because distributions will change. Expect a different threshold once scores are in.
Want tailored advice on whether your UCAT is competitive for UCL? Book our Medical School Interview Course or try our MMI mock circuits.
UCL Medical Interview format (2026 entry)
Style: Multiple Mini Interview (MMI). Home fee-status candidates interview on campus; overseas candidates interview online.
Timing: Interviews run December → March; invitations are issued on a rolling basis with ~1 week’s notice.
Assessment domains: Interviewers score qualities including academic curiosity; motivation & understanding of medicine; problem-solving; professional values (integrity, empathy, conscientiousness); teamwork/leadership/resilience; and communication.
UCL shares an overview video from the Admissions Tutor explaining MMIs and what they assess — worth a watch before you practise.
When are UCL Medicine interviews held?
Interview window: December to March each cycle, with rolling invites across the season.
UCAS application deadline for 2026 entry: 15 October 2025, 18:00 (UK time).
Anecdotally, applicants report first interview dates mid-December and invites starting late November/early December in recent cycles (student forum reports; treat as anecdotal).
What topics are covered at UCL MMIs?
UCL doesn’t publish station lists, but it does publish the qualities and values scored at interview. Expect stations that allow you to demonstrate: motivation for a career in medicine, insight into the NHS, communication and empathy, ethical reasoning, teamwork/leadership, resilience, problem-solving, and professionalism.
How many applicants are interviewed, and how many receive offers?
UCL also states publicly that it receives ~3800 applications for ~334 places each year (international places are government-capped).
Example UCL-style MMI stations & questions (practice set)
UCL assesses broad attributes rather than specific knowledge. Use these to practise timing, structure and empathy.
Motivation & insight
“Why UCL specifically? What aspects of our curriculum or clinical sites appeal to you, and why?”
“Tell us about a clinical experience that confirmed medicine is right for you. What did you learn about yourself?”
Communication with a patient (role-play)
Break bad news about a delayed investigation due to service pressures; explore feelings and safety-net.
A patient with limited English doesn’t understand their discharge meds — show teach-back and use of interpreters.
Ethical decision-making
Capacity & consent: A confused patient refuses IV antibiotics. Assess capacity, act in the best interests of the individual, and involve the MDT.
Resource allocation: You have one HDU bed and two suitable candidates. How would you decide?
Data & problem-solving
Interpret a short graph on vaccination uptake; identify trends, confounders, and public-health actions.
Prioritise four ED cases with limited staff — justify triage.
Teamwork & leadership
You witness a peer making a repeated medication-calculation error. How do you escalate while maintaining professionalism?
Describe a time you led under pressure. What did you change next time?
Professionalism & values
Social media dilemma: a peer posts patient-identifiable content. What are the risks and your response?
You’re late for clinic repeatedly due to caring responsibilities — how will you handle this?
Resilience & reflection
“Tell us about a significant setback and how you adapted.”
“What recent NHS challenge do you think most affects junior doctors, and why?”
Health systems & current affairs
Physician Associates in the NHS: benefits, risks, and safeguarding patient safety.
Tackling health inequalities in London — propose one realistic initiative.
Want structured practice on the MMI skills UCL scores (communication, ethics, problem-solving, professionalism)? Join our MMI mock circuits.
When are offers released?
UCL advises that it aims to provide outcomes as soon as possible after interviews, but may wait until all candidates have been interviewed to review score ranges. Outcomes are then posted on the UCAS Hub and the UCL Applicant Portal. In practice, many decisions land during/after the interview window.
Top tips for the UCL interview
Know the scoring domains — plan examples that demonstrate curiosity, motivation, ethics, teamwork and communication.
Practise concise structure (e.g., SPIES for professionalism; Four Principles for ethics; SBAR in team scenarios).
London & NHS awareness: Be ready to discuss health inequalities, service pressures and inter-professional working in London settings.
Role-play like a clinician: Use empathy, open questions, sign-posting, safety-netting.
Reflect, don’t recite: UCL doesn’t score your personal statement for shortlisting, but reflective insight is valued in the interview.
SJT mindset: Even though SJT mainly breaks UCAT ties at shortlisting, its themes mirror the values UCL assesses.
Logistics: If invited, reply within five calendar days and monitor email/junk; keep your unavailable dates updated with Admissions.
Want expert, targeted feedback? Book our Medical School Interview Course – taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK Medical Schools. Pair it with our MMI mock circuits for timed station practice.
Key dates for 2026 applicants
UCAS deadline: 15 October 2025, 18:00 (UK). Late applications aren’t considered.
Interview window: December 2025 – March 2026, rolling invites, at least one week’s notice.
FAQ
Does UCL use UCAT for Medicine now?
Yes. After BMAT was withdrawn, UCL adopted UCAT. All applicants must sit the UCAT in the year of application.
What UCAT score do I need for a UCL interview in 2026?
UCL hasn’t published a 2026 threshold. For 2025 entry, the minimums to be invited were 2,600 (Access UCL), 2,800 (Home), and 3,060 (Overseas) out of a total of 3,600. In 2026, the total will be 2,700 due to UCAT changes, resulting in shifting thresholds.
Does UCL use SJT?
Yes. The Total UCAT is the primary ranking metric; the SJT is used to rank candidates with identical totals further.
How many people get interviewed/offers?
Recent FOI data show, for example, that in 2023/24, UCL received 2,947 applications, issued 1,142 interview invitations, and made 616 offers, with 409 acceptances and 345 enrollments. Figures vary by year.
What is the interview format?
MMI — in person for Home candidates, online for Overseas. December–March with rolling invites.
Does UCL score GCSEs/A-levels for shortlisting?
UCL checks you meet the minimum academic requirements, but does not rank by GCSEs/A-levels once you meet them.
Where can I find official requirements?
See UCL’s 2026 entry requirements and admissions pages (we’ve cited them throughout).
